U.S. Police Officers Fit for Safety???

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One of the first things I noticed when I moved the United States was the amount of police officers that were overweight. It was then that I realized that the depiction I had seen in the movies was true- they clearly lived on a diet of donuts and coffee! After this first impression of humor subsided, I actually became worried about my safety. I say this because: How can an overweight policeman protect me, or anyone else for that matter?

In October 2012, I asked Houston Mayor Annise Parker that very question, and here is what she answered:

I am not saying that all police officers are out of shape and considering that they all went through an academy and training, even the unfit ones must have been active at some point. By no means is an overweight cop less important than a fit one, but if that cop is already great- imagine his full potential if he were healthy and fit. I want my police officers to be healthy and fit because they are responsible for my, and our safety. Ask yourself this question: can a police officer who is 50 lbs overweight truly perform his duties to his best abilities if your life were in danger?

In many problematic situations, a police officer doesn’t need to pull his gun out but rather needs to physically intervene to reach a resolution- are our cops fit enough, on average, to perform all these tasks? We all know the differences between a person who is in shape and one who is not: strength, endurance, cardio, self-esteem, better control over body and emotions, and self-assuredness. All these qualities ensure that a police officer does not over-react to a situation of distress and better controls his reactions without pulling a gun.

The job of a police officer is a very stressful one, and mental stress manifests itself physically. Over a period of time, this stress can build up to such large proportions that causes both mental and physical imbalances. Such a person would have a short temper, be physically out of shape, have delayed reaction times, and could become paranoid and aggressive. This can lead to a dangerous situation where a small incident can cause a large reaction with unwarranted death.

I urge all the police officers in the US to exercise weekly 3-4 times, to focus on a balanced healthy diet, and have an outlet for their stress such as prayer or meditation. Recently, the FBI released the statistic that 80% of America’s police are overweight. Rather than this being a slight, I hope that we can open a productive dialogue on the best ways to keep our police force active, fit, and performing at their best. Police officers have a noble role in society by keeping civilians and themselves safe- I simply hope that they can feel and perform at their best for the benefit of society. Police officers should be a great example to our children and ourselves on how healthy lifestyle can help you better protect yourself- and others- in any situation.

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Samir Becic
Samir Becic is a world-renowned health and fitness expert. Named the “Fitness Czar” by the City of Houston in 2018, he is also the author of the HarperCollins book ReSYNC Your Life, founder of Health Fitness Revolution Magazine, 4 x #1 Fitness Trainer in America by Bally Total Fitness, and creator of the ReSync Fitness Method. The Mayor of Houston and the 16 City Council Members proclaimed January 10th, 2023 as the official “Samir Becic Day” in the City of Houston. In May 2023, he was awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden, recognizing his invaluable contributions to society. In December 2023, Samir received a United States Congressional proclamation from the Historic 18th District for his prolific advocacy of physical fitness as an instrument for improving America’s health and his decade-long commitment to motivating the United States Congress. Samir’s impact extends beyond accolades; his work has graced the pages of numerous top-tier media outlets. His vibrant presence and powerful motivational skills have solidified his status as a luminary in the health and fitness domain. -Received a United States Congressional proclamation from the Historic 18th District in December 2023 for his influential role in the community and dedication to fitness advocacy -Bestowed a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2023 from President Joe Biden for his commitment to philanthropy and volunteering -January 10th, 2023 proclaimed as the official "Samir Becic Day" by Mayor Sylvester Turner and the 16 City of Houston Council Members for Samir's advocacy of health and fitness in America  -November 1st, 2022 proclaimed as the official "Samir Becic Day" by Mayor Sylvester Turner for Samir's service during his 4 years as the official "Fitness Czar" for the City of Houston and 20 years as a health advisor to previous Mayors -Official Fitness Czar for the city of Houston proclaimed by Mayor Sylvester Turner  -Named the “Best Fitness Trainer in the World” by two-time NBA Championship coach and Olympic gold medalist Rudy Tomjanovich -Named Top 40 "American Dream" immigrant -Chosen among the Top 6 "American Dream" immigrants for a collaborative panel between Interfaith Ministries and Houstonia Magazine -“#1 Fitness Trainer in the World,”- 4 times by Bally Total Fitness -#1 Fitness Trainer in Texas,”- 22 times by Bally Total Fitness -#1 Fitness Trainer in Houston”- 29 times by Bally Total Fitness -“Best of the Best Fitness Trainer”- 2 times by Bally Total Fitness -“Best Fitness Director”- 2 times by Bally Total Fitness -“Men’s Journal Top Fitness Trainer in America” -“Houston Health Warrior” by Health & Fitness Sports Magazine  -“The Motivator” by the Houston Chronicle

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